Let's hear it from Jamilla

Jamilla Obispo, the single mother from San Pablo, Laguna, became an immediate favorite in the recently concluded Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition of ABS-CBN. But as the contest was coming to an end, Jamilla was suddenly bombarded by intrigues that badly shook her chances of emerging as the Big Winner. She was eventually evicted. Apparently, the bad publicity affected the text votes.

She lost her charisma as the issues against her baffled the viewing public. I for one was rooting for her to make it to the Big Four but as her troubles began, I also lost interest in her. That was why I was dying to meet her in person so I would be able to get the clarifications "direct from the horse's mouth," so to speak. And so when I learned she was coming last Saturday for the 10th year anniversary celebration of MOR 97.1 Lupig Sila, I went out of my way to ask ABS-CBN's Trixie Tolentino if I could interview this controversial teen mother. My wish was granted and the rest, if I may say so, is history.

In person, the 18-year-old Jamilla is beautiful, but she looks older than her age. Her voice is tiny, lacking in persuasiveness. She's short and slim and I would have to say, she is a girl who was forced to mature because of her experience. Seated beside Matt Evans, I heard them talking about the features of a high-end cellular phone and the resto bar she hung out at the previous night.

For someone who claimed she joined PBB for the operation of her son Miggy and to have as well a feel of how it is to be inside the "Bahay of Kuya," Jamilla is yet to decide which genre she wanted to focus into. One thing is clear Star Magic will package her as a genuine actress and will bury her FHM moment six feet below the ground. Anyhow, my concern for now is to get the answers of clarification, in the name of fairness, after discussing in previous columns issues thrown at her.

PenPoint: Hindi ka raw nag-audition sa PBB. You submitted your resume to your manager sa bar na pinagtratabuhan mo and siya na ang nag-forward nun sa kapit niya sa ABS-CBN. Is this true?

Jamilla: Ha!? Ha, ha, ha. Wala po. Unang-una po wala po akong manager. Wala pong alam yung pinagtrabahuhan ko dati na sasali ako sa PBB, yung mother ko lang ang nakakaalam. Pero nung nag-audition ako hindi pa alam ng mama ko, nalaman niya na lang nung huli na. Wala po silang alam, wala talaga. At saka hindi na po ako nagtratrabaho dun, matagal na po.

PenPoint: Another issue, you attempted to abort your son that's why he has a cleft palate.

Jamilla: No hindi po totoo. Hindi po pumasok sa isip ko na gagawin ko yon. Pero kahit sabihin ko ang totoo mayron pa ring hindi maniniwala kaya okay lang basta ako alam ko ang totoo at malinis ang konsensya ko.

PenPoint: When you were inside the Bahay of Kuya, may lumabas din na isyu na hindi ka naman talaga naghihirap kasi may DOM benefactor ka raw and the truth is dadalhin mo na sana ang anak mo sa Amerika para dun operahan. What is your reaction to this?

Jamilla: Ah yun. Totoo yun na may boyfriend ako pero wala yung papa operahan ang anak ko. Kasi bago pa ako pumasok sa PBB break na kami. Yung boyfriend kung yun hindi nagtagal yung relationship namin. At saka kung totoo yun bakit ko pa kailangang pumasok sa PBB, bakit kailangan ko pang mag-audition? Bakit kailangan ko pang ikalat kung sino talaga ako, di ba?

PenPoint: Next issue. Hindi daw totoo na iniwan ka ng ama ng anak mo dahil ang totoo kinasuhan siya ng mommy mo dahil minor ka lang, at dumadalaw-dalaw pa nga hanggang ngayon ang ama ng bata.

Jamilla: Isinakdal siya ng mommy ko kasi wala siyang trabaho. Ha, ha, ha, hindi ba? Wala po sa edad. Ang gustong mangyari ng mama ko that time ay makapagtrabaho siya pero hindi niya ginawa. Puro barkada lang. Nung una hindi ko maintindihan ang mama ko bakit niya kami paghiwalayin ng boyfriend ko. Pero nung time na nanganak na ako, dun ko na realize na tama yung mama ko kasi wala talagang mangyari sa buhay ko. Wala siyang maibibigay sa anak niya, ayaw niyang magtrabaho.

PenPoint: Anong isyu ang kinaiinisan mo ng husto?

Jamilla: Yung ginagamit ko raw ang anak ko para sumikat. Bakit ko gagawin yun eh anak ko yun eh? Kung gamitin ko ang anak ko, para akong sira.

PenPoint: Bakit ka sumali ng PBB? Pangarap mo ba talaga maging artista?

Jamilla: Hindi. Sumali ako unang-una para sa anak ko. Second gusto kong ma-experience ang nakita ko sa PBB before.

PenPoint: Sinabi mo kanina, galit ka dun sa mga taong mahilig manira kahit hindi nila alam ang totoo. Then who is Jamilla Obispo away from the camera, who are you as a person?

Jamilla: Ano ako, kung anong mayron, kahit ako wala basta yung pamilya ko maayos. Ayaw ko na may nang-aagrabyado sa kanila.

PenPoint: When you are alone, before you sleep at night, what do you say to yourself?

Jamilla: Kaya ko to! Kung ano man ang darating kakayanin ko.

PenPoint: Message to your detractors?

Jamilla: Tingan nyo muna ang sarili ninyo bago kayo tumingin sa iba.

From my Inbox:

I am Roy Empleo, the guest performer of Mark Bautista in his concert last June 24 at SM Cinema 2. I read your article about the recent concert of Mark and I am thankful for the positive comments that you have written about me especially when you wrote: GOSH! WHAT A SPLENDID PERFORMANCE! Somehow, that was a boost for my performance although honestly, I was already afraid and anxious to expect my voice cracking up since I had tonsillopharyngitis at that night. I had to force myself to be absent for two days from my work as educator here in DBTC since I had to rest my voice in preparation for the concert.

But I really thank God that somehow my performance went well. Hehehe! I do believe that I might have been quite conscious and probably stiff when I performed my first song. First and foremost, I never had any rehearsals on stage "bisa'g an hour before the concert" because I had to host the ABSCBN Game Show in the morning and we had a taping of the Grand Draw of Extra Joss in the afternoon after the morning show. I really had to rush back home and rest my voice. Secondly, I also didn't have any chance for a sound check, and that explained why my microphone didn't sound quite good in my early song, "You Raise Me Up." Thirdly, I didn't want to really move too much coz I might crack my voice especially in those low notes. Whew! I hope I am not sounding defensive...

It's okay Roy, at least you said thank you. That's what matters to me. Congratulations to Formo Bar, which celebrated its first anniversary last Friday! Thank you to the ever-amiable Miss Jaja Chiongbian for the warm reception you accorded to us. Thank you as well to Hai Phong restaurant for the mouth-watering dinner you served us last Friday as well.

React at [email protected] or check out my blog at www.ryanmark.blogspot.com